Of the 3,200 people inside the protected area, 80 per cent are indigenous.

AIDESEP, Peru’s national organization for indigenous peoples says, ‘The road, far from solving the supposed isolation of the province, would only bring degradation and destruction.’

Similarly, Flora Rodriguez from local indigenous organization FECONAPU says, ‘The road is not development. It is creating division. The road has no purpose for us, it would bring death, because the forest is life.’

Survival International’s Director Stephen Corry said today, ‘This project not only endangers the lives of thousands of indigenous people, but makes a mockery of Peru’s laws. If it goes ahead without consulting the indigenous peoples, one of the most important parts of the Amazon for isolated and uncontacted Indians will be devastated.’